Washing machine transmission



Jan. 26, 1943 w. G. BAULE 2,309,567 WASHING MACHINE TRANSMISSION Filed Oct. 25, 1941' 2 sheets-sneak Jan.26, 1943 w.G. BAU v 2,309,567

' WASHING MACHINE TRANSMISSION Filed Oct. 25. 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 WASHING MACHINE TRANSBHSSION Werner G. Baule, Detroit, Warner Corporation,

tion of Illinois Mich, assignor to Borg- Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application October 23, 1941, Serial No. 416,242

7 Claims.

This invention relates to rack and pinion drive assemblies and particularly to an improved arrangement for moving the rack into and out of engagement with the pinion, as well as for maintaining the same in effective engagement during the reciprocation of the rack.

It is an object to provide an arrangement of the above type wherein the rack is held in engagement with the associated pinion through the medium of a lost motion resilient connection. A more detailed object is the provision of a resilient arrangement for urging the rack into engagement with the pinion and maintaining this resilient relationship during operation and in addition, providing for the positive withdrawal of the rack from engagement with the pinion.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement in accordance with the above having special application to a washing machine transmission for effecting the selective oscillation of the agitator.

Other and more particular objects, advantages and uses of my invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view with the tub removed of a washing machine assembly incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken away elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken away view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 4;

lg. 4 is a section view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig, 5 is a section View corresponding to Fig. 4 but illustrating an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a section View taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring in greater detail to the figures of the drawings Ill indicates generally a washing machine assembly incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this washing machine including the usual essential base H supported on legs l2 carrying tub l3, containing agitator l4 arranged for reciprocation by a special rack and pinion transmission l5. including a worm and crank assembly l6 driven by an electric motor l7.

It is to the special arrangement comprising transmission [5 and the control therefor that the present invention is directed. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a transmission housing 20 carried on the underside of base ll contains a reciprocable rack 2! arranged to selectively drive pinion 22 connected with agitator 14 for eifecting the reciprocation thereof.

The problem herein dealt with involves the provision of an efficient arrangement for selectively moving rack 2| into engagement with the teeth of pinion 22; maintaining the proper relationship between rack and pinion during the reciprocation of the rack at which time it will be seen that certain peculiar phenomena exist due to the angular movement of the rack as Well as the reciprocation thereof; and finally the proper withdrawal of the rack teeth from the pinion teeth when it is desired to allow the agitator to remain stationary while the rack is still reciprocating as when operating the usual ringer mechanism, the latter of which is not described in detail as the same forms no particular part of the present invention. I have found that this problem is best solved by an arrangement of pivoted levers incorporating a resilient or spring lost motion connection providing for a certain amount of resiliently controlled movement which movement is unavoidable due to the fact that the rack is not only reciprocated but shifted by the crank action at the end thereof remote from the pinion. In a more detailed aspect of the present arrangement, it will be seen that while the rack is moved into engagement and held in engagement through the medium of a resilient connection, the rack is nevertheless positively moved in the opposite direction in eifecting the withdrawal thereof from the pinion.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated to particular advantage in Figs. 3 and 4 a connector and guide shoe 25 partially embraces the back portion of rack 2i and includes a lip-like retainer portion 26 cooperating with a longitudinally extending groove 21 formed in the rack 2| and functioning to maintain the connected relationship between the rack and the shoe while permitting of the reciprocation of the rack relative to the shoe. Extending from the back side of shoe 25 is a yoke-like portion 28 functioning to support the shoe 25 and rack 2| on the end portion of a reciprocable pin or plunger 29 to which the yoke is connected by a pin 36. Plunger 29 is mounted for reciprocation in a suitable bearing provided in the transmission housing 20, the outer end portion being arranged for connection with a special assembly of pivoted levers including a spring lost motion connection for effecting the selective movement of plunger 29. A clutch operating lever 35 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end portion thereof on a pin 35a carried by a boss 35b protruding from housing 29 adjacent shoe 25. The opposite terminal portion of lever 35 is provided with a suitable knob 35 at a readily available position adjacent the outside wall 31 of base II for engagement by the hand of the operator. As indicated to advantage in Fig. 2, wall 3'1 is formed with a vertically extending slot 38 through which lever 35 protrudes, this slot being provided with an offset or enlargement 35 at the lower portion thereof for locking lever 35 in the lowermost position of its arcuate movement corresponding to the on or engaged position of the rack. For urging lever 35 upwardly upon release, there is provided a spring 4| which is effective to raise lever 35 to the upper extremity of slot 38 corresponding to the disengaged position of the rack.

Particular attention is drawn to the provision of a second lever indicated generally at 45, this lever being likewise pivotally mounted at a position adjacent the rack and pinion as shown in the preferred embodiment in Figs. 3 and 4. Lever 45 is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the same axis as the inner end of lever 35, namely on 35. One terminal portion 45 of lever 45 is received within a longitudinally extending slot or yoke 29a of plunger 29 for efi'ecting the reciprocation thereof. This terminal portion 45 is rounded or ball-like at 41 for engagement with the bottom of yoke 29a in urging the plunger into rack engaging position and cooperates with a circular cross section pin 2% in the reverse direction of its movement for withdrawing the rack from engagement with the pinion. The opposite terminal portion 55 of lever 45 is formed with a plurality of notches 5I, 52 for the selective reception of one terminal portion of a coiled tension spring 53, the opposite end of which is connected with the first lever 35 by being passed through opening 54. For the purpose of limiting the arcuate movement of terminal portion 50 of lever 45 and lever 35 into closer proximity under the influence of tension spring 53, there is provided a stop protuberance 55 on lever 35 and an adjustable threaded stop member 55, including lock-nut 51, carried on lever 45 for cooperation with stop 55.

It will thus appear that by movement of knob 35 downwardly to lock lever 35 in the on position spring 55 will be placed under tension and thus resiliently urge lever 45 in the clockwise direction to effect the movement of rack 2I into engage- Any temporary resistance of the rack teeth into ment with pinion 22. to the complete movement engagement with the pinion teeth will be taken up by the spring 53, including any variations in the relationship introduced by the shifting angle of the rack due to the crank action at the end thereof remote from the pinion. The spring 53 will continue to absorb any reaction introduced by this angular shifting of the rack about the pinion throughout the period during which the pinion is being driven by the rack. When it is desired to release the rack from the pinion, the lever 35 is shifted to the right looking at Fig. 2 and either allowed to be raised by spring 4| r assisted by shifting the knob 35 to the position indicated as off. The lever 35, in being moved to the off position, acts positively through protuberances 55 and stop 55 to move lever 45 counterclockwise and cause the positive withdrawal of rack teeth 2| from the teeth of pinion 22.

As an alternative to the above described arrangement, I have shown in Figs. and 6 a construction wherein the supporting pin or plunger 29 of the preceding figures has been eliminated and the shoe slightly modified and supported directly from the second lever corresponding to lever 45 described above. Lever I45 is likewise pivoted intermediate the ends thereof at I35 along with the first lever 35 and is further provided with a terminal portion I45 pivotally supporting shoe I through yoke or ears I28 extending from the back of the shoe. To provide for the angular shifting of the rack due to the crank action, circular opening in terminal portion I45, through which a connecting pin I2Ba passes, is formed with a rounded cross section as shown at I45a.

It will be understood that minor changes resulting in equivalent arrangements of structure may be made without departing from the invention, such, for example, as mounting lever 45 or I45 and lever on other than the same axis.

The herein disclosed specific embodiments of the invention are intended by way of example and not by way of limitation, the invention being defined by the appended claims which should be given a scope as broad as permitted by the prior art.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining such engagement during reciprocation of said rack, said means including a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion providing a pivotal support for said lever, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an ofi position, a second lever pivotally mounted adjacent said first lever support, lost motion connecting means between said first and second levers comprising a spring and means connecting said second lever with said rack for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said pinion whereby the movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb movements of said rack caused by the operation of said crank.

2. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining such engagement during reciprocation of said rack, said means comprising a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion providing a fixed pivotal support for said lever, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an off position, a second lever, means providing a fixed pivotal support for said second lever adjacent said first lever support, lost motion connecting means between said first and second levers comprising a spring and means connecting said second lever with said rack for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said pinion whereby the movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb movements of said rack caused by the operation of said crank.

3. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining said engagement during reciprocation of said rack by said crank, said means comprising a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion defining a fixed pivotal support 'for a first terminal portion of said lever including a projecting pin, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an off position, a second lever pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof on said pin in spaced relation to the pivotally supported portion of said first lever, stop means on one of said levers eiTective to contact the other lever for limiting the arcuate relative movement between said levers, a spring connecting said levers at points spaced from said pin support and means connecting said second lever with said rack for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said pinion whereby the movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb angular movement of said rack caused by the operation of said crank, the adjustment of said lever to said ofi position bringing said stop means into engagement and thus positively moving said rack out of contact with said pinion.

4. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining said engagement during reciprocation of said rack by said crank, said means comprising a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion defining a fixed pivotal support for a first terminal portion of said lever including a projecting pin, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an off position, a second lever pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof on said pin in spaced relation to the pivotally supported portion of said first lever, adjustable stop means on one of said levers effective to contact the other lever for limiting the arcuate relative movement between said levers, a spring connecting said levers at points spaced from said pin support and means connecting said second lever with said rack for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said pinion, said means including a reciprocable plunger, means adjacent said rack providing a bearing support for said plunger, a guide and connecting shoe carried on one end of said plunger connecting said rack with said plunger for support thereby, the other terminal portion of said plunger being connected with said second lever for operation thereby, whereby movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring, second lever, and plunger to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb angular movements of said rack caused by the operation of said crank, the adjustment of said first lever to said off position being effective to bring said stop means into said contact and thus positively move said rack away from said pinion through the medium of said second lever, plunger and connecting guide shoe.

5. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining said engagement during reciprocamaintaining tion of said rack by said crank, said means including a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion defining a fixed pivotal support for a first terminal portion of said lever including a projecting pin, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an off position, a second lever pivotally sup ported intermediate the ends thereof on said pin in spaced relation to the pivotally supported portion of said first lever, stop means on one of said levers eilective to contact the other lever for limiting the arcuate relative movement between said levers, a spring connecting said'levers at points spaced from said pin support, said second lever being particuiarly characterized by the provision of a terminal portion extending beyond said pivotal support in the direction opposite to said spring connection with said second lever and a guide shoe connecting member pivotally carried by said terminal portion of said lever for guided connection with said rack, whereby the movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring, second lever and guide shoe to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb angular movement of said rack caused by the operation of said crank, the reverse movement of said first lever to said ofi position being efiective to bring said stop means into operation and thus positively moving said rack from engagement with said pinion through the medium of said stop means, second lever and guide shoe.

6. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently maintaining such engagement during reciprocation of said rack, said means comprising a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion providing a fixed pivotal support for said lever, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an ofi position, said lever having a manually engageable portion spaced from said pivotal support for effecting said adjustment, means for engaging said lever intermediate the ends thereof to retain the same in either said on position or said off position, a second lever pivotally mounted adjacent said first lever support, lost motion connecting means between said first and second levers comprising a spring and means connecting said second lever with said rack for moving said rack into and out of engagement with said pinion whereby the movement of said first lever to said on position acts through said spring to cause movement of said rack into engagement with said pinion, said spring functioning during the driving operation of said pinion by said rack to absorb movements of said rack caused by the operation of said crank.

7. The combination with a rotatably mounted pinion and a crank operated reciprocable rack for driving said pinion, of manually operable means "for resiliently shifting said rack into driving engagement with said pinion and resiliently such engagement during reciprocation of said rack by said crank, said means comprising a first lever, means adjacent said rack and pinion defining a fixed pivotal support for a first terminal portion of said lever, including a bearing pin, said lever being arcuately adjustable about said support from an on position to an off position, said lever having a manually engageable portion spaced from said pivotal support means connecting said second lever with said rack for effecting such adjustment, means adapted. to for moving said rack into and out of engagement be engaged by said lever intermediate the ends with said pinion whereby the movement of said thereof when either in an On or an off position first lever to said on position acts through said for retaining the same in such position, a second 5 spring to cause cushioned movement of said rack lever pivotally supported intermediate the ends into engagement with said pinion, said spring thereof on said pin and spaced in side by side refunctioning during the driving operation of said lation to the pivotally supported portion of said pinion by said rack to absorb movements of said first lever, stop means on one of said levers efrack caused by the operation of said crank, the fective to contact the other lever for limiting the 10 adjustment of said lever in the direction of said arcuate relative movement between said levers, a off position bringing said stop means into enspring connecting said levers at points spaced gagement and thus positively moving said rack from said pin support for urging said levers in out of contact with said pinion. the direction of one another about said pin, and WERNER G. BAULE. 

